How to safely introduce your baby to peanuts and other food allergens?

Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Is your baby at risk for food allergies? It's a question that concerns many new and prospective parents as food allergies are increasingly common.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4 to 6 percent of all children in the United States have a food allergy that is when the body has an adverse immune response to specific foods body.
Although allergic reactions are usually mild, there is reason for parents to be concerned, as some reactions can be serious and life-threatening.
There are 8 common food allergies that account for 90% of severe allergic reactions: cow's milk, peanuts, shellfish, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, soy, and fish.
Children with food allergies are 2-4 times more likely to develop asthma or other allergic conditions.
Allergies cannot be cured, but doctors say there is a way to avoid them.
Exposing infants (who are at risk for common food allergies) to allergenic foods at an early age can help avoid parental concerns, especially when Their children have to navigate the food options on the school lunch table.

Dr. Brian Schroer, a pediatric allergist at the Cleveland Clinic, says that the best age for parents to introduce their children to allergenic foods varies from child to child.
Schroer says: “When making recommendations about introducing your child to allergenic foods, it should be based on your personal preferences and your GP.”
In 2017, the National Institutes of Health published recommendations for the best time to introduce peanut-containing foods to infants to prevent allergies. They suggest that those children are at high risk for allergies (those with severe eczema, an itchy skin rash that can often manifest as a common childhood allergic reaction), egg allergy, or both. Second, peanuts should be added, as early as 4 to 6 months old.
The NIH also recommends that infants with mild or moderate eczema add peanuts to their diet at around 6 months, while those who are not at risk for allergies can include peanuts in their diet. eat by yourself at any time.
What about the others? Schroer says that most of the research out there has focused on peanuts versus other common food allergies.
He explains: “There are really no specific recommendations for when to introduce eggs or dairy. Studies show that early egg introduction can delay or prevent egg allergy. Some studies also show that introducing milk to babies early can prevent milk allergies.”
He says that while government studies and guidelines for the other seven common allergies are not as common as for peanuts, the peanut guidelines can be a common stereotype that parents have can be used with the family's pediatrician and allergist to avoid putting children at risk of developing allergies to allergenic foods.
Dr. Purvi Parikh, pediatric allergist at NYU Langone Health, says that “it is important for infants to be evaluated by an allergist. Allergen testing is important.”
She says that while a person's immune system is "very nimble" throughout life, it is only developing at the infancy stage. This means that the baby relies on the mother's immune system to protect against germs during the first few months of life, which is the best time to determine if a food allergy is likely.
“This stage determines what will happen for the rest of your life. We recommend introducing these foods to children earlier because we find that if left on too long, it can sometimes be detrimental and lead to higher allergy rates as children get older,” says Parikh. .

The Parikh expert says that many factors explain why a child may have a particular food allergy.
“We advise parents that they don't need to use disinfectant for everything, for example. It doesn't have to be so clean, and in fact, can harm children by not exposing them to the good bacteria out there." - she says
She points out that processed foods and Junk food has been linked to a higher occurrence of allergies and asthma
What about wondering pregnant women Are there foods they should avoid if worried about their baby? have allergies in the future?
“Pregnant women should not avoid any food available out there to prevent the fetus from developing allergies. Eat peanuts during pregnancy if you want to eat peanuts. Eat peanuts being pregnant will have nothing to do with your son or daughter having an allergy,” stressed author Schroer.
Parikh agrees, adding that pregnant women need to avoid certain foods that could potentially However, Schroer advises prospective parents of children with food allergies to exercise caution. allergic to a certain food.

The authors say the most important thing all parents can recognize are “emergency signs”.
“They should know the signs of an allergic reaction. Their baby may be intolerant to a certain food and may present with a rash. It could be hives or eczema. It can be skin flushing or scratches on the skin. That combined with other symptoms could be a sign of a more serious reaction,” the doctors warned. “If a child starts vomiting with a rash, or starts coughing and has trouble breathing, or begins to be inactive within an hour of eating food, seek medical attention. .”
Author Schroer also emphasizes that people should always consult their doctor about when to introduce an infant to allergenic foods, and not consult the commenters on social networking forums.
He said, while there can be helpful information from medical professionals online, there are many who spread false or misleading information.
Schroer also points out that just because a child has allergies, doesn't mean their siblings are at higher risk.
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References
Healthline. when-is-it-best-to-expose-your-baby-to-potential-food-allergens